Governor credits ‘rapid re-housing’ for homelessness decline

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RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - The percentage of homeless people living in Virginia dropped 16 percent over the last three years, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell announced during an event Monday morning at St. Joseph's Villa.

He added "family homelessness" dropped 17 percent in that time and the number of veterans experiencing homelessness dropped 18 percent.

The governor credited the decreases to moves he has made since taking office. Moves that included "shifting some state resources from traditional shelter services to rapid re-housing."

“A focus on this important effort, and shifting some resources from shelters to rapid re-housing, has led to more Virginians living in safe, stable homes," he said in a statement. "More Virginians today have a place to call home, and that is great news for them and for our entire Commonwealth."

The governor added there was still "much work to do" and said the work would not be done until "all Virginians have a home.”

CBS 6 news reporter Shelby Brown takes a closer look at the homelessness numbers, the programs in place to address the issues and the impact it is having on people in our community. Click on the video for her full report.